Rotary distributing valve and valve gearing for steam and other fluidpressure engines



Nov. 1, 1927.'l

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w. M. cowARD ROTARY DISTRIBUTING VALVE AND/'VALVE GEARING FOR STEAM AND OTHER FLUID PRESSURE ENGINES Filed June 50, 1923 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 Patented Nov. l, i927.

WiLLIAM MONTAGE cowAEn, or NEUTRAL BAY, NEAR sYENEY, 'NEW SOUTH WALES, 'AUSTEALrA ROTARY Dis'rniisurrne VALVE AND VALVE GEARING FOR STEAM AND OTHER FLUID- PRESSURE ENGINES.

f Application led June 30,

This invention relates to improvements in for steam and other fluid pressure engines, and it has been devised to provide a simple, compact and perfectly balancedl valve with small clearances, and adapted to loe rotated at any Vrequired speed and supply steam or other fluid pressure to one or to a series or cylinders.l

f A further vobject of the invention is to provide a valve of the class indicated wherein the' cut-off may be conveniently regulated or variedby hand, or automatically by gearing to a governor, independently of the reverse gear: wherein improved means are em-A ployed to reverse the engine or vary the load and further to increase the rapidity of the action of the valve so as to permit lthe ports to be fully opened and closed with small piston movement, thus reducing the throttling and wire-drawing of the steam.

A still further object is to provide valve gearing'of relatively few parts and consequently of inexpensive construction by eliminating eccentrics and-other ad]uncts now ordinarily employed Jfor theV control and operation of the existing slide, piston and rocking valves.

The invention consists o't the Jfeatures of construction, combination and arrangement hereinafter fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the improved valve construction and its application to a two cylinder engine Figure l is a perspective valve. l

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Figure 3 is a perspective view-of the reversing sleeve.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the cut-off Lor regulating sleeve. v

Figure 5 is a perspective. view ofl the valve, reversing and cut-0E sleeves when assembled.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of the assembled valve housedV vwithin' the valve casing or chest.

Figure 7 is a horizontal Across-sectional view, part of the reversing sleeve and part of the cut-o sleeve being removed and one of the pistons being omitted for convenience of illustration,

view of the`l 1923. Serial No. .$48,824.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view on line A-A of Figure 7,V showing'the valve and its connections to a high pressure cylinder, the engine running normally.

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8, lout illustrating the position of the reversing sleeve when the engine `is reversed. Figure 10 is a section throughl the valvev chamber, showing the position of the cut-oft sleeve when the engine is running with an early cut-0E. I 1

Figure l1 is a vertical 'sectional view on the line B-B of Figure 7, illustrating the Vvalve and 'its connections toa low pressure cylinder', the engine running normally.

Figure 12 is ay view inV section taken through the valve chamber, illustrating the position of the reversing sleeve when the engine is reversed. .i i

Figures' 13 and 14 are diagrammatic `side and end views. respectively, illustrative of the general arrangement 'of the engine with valve drive and governor attachment.

Referring to the drawings, the numerall designates a hollowvalve having a tapered ted centrally to, or cast integrally vwith-the smaller end oi' the valveis a spindle Qwhich configuration andclosed at both ends. Fit i is connected to driving gear, to impart ro-V -tary motion to said valve. f

A bearing base 3 is formed at the larger .end of saidA valve to receive a-spring pressure bearing, hereinafter described, forthe purpose of correctly seating said valve in the valve casing.

The valve is partitioned by the wall 4 into` .two chambers 5 and 6,. providing steam Vchests for the high'pressure and the low 1 pressure cylinders, respectively Formed` peripherally in said valve adjacent to its end of smaller diameter are inlet ports 7 in open communication with the chamber v5, which hastwo diametrically opposite outlet ports'S and 9 formed adjacent to said partitioning wallv 4 and spaced intermediate of said inlet ports.

The chamber 6 has a plurality of inletV portsl() formed in the valve 1 adjacent `to its partitioning `wallyand two diametrically opposite outlet ports l1 and l2 which are larranged intermediate'o'f said ports 8 and of the other chamber j l Y The valve l fits snugly within areversing Vthis hollow spindle is al lever 15, by the operation of which the reversing sleeve 13 can be partially rotated on the valve 1 tor the purpose of reversing the direction ot rotation ot the engine.

Formed in that portion o'l` the reversing sleeve that surrounds the high pressure steam chamber ot the valve 1 are inlet ports 16 which are adapted lo register with the inlet portsi, and ports or openings 17 and 18 that are adapted to register with the outlet-ports 8 and 9 of said chamber. The reversing` sleeve has a shouldered inember 19, and it has outwardly projecting blocks 2O and 21 for the purpose hereinafter explained.

That portion ot said reversing sleeve which surrounds the lower1 pressure chamber 6 of the valve is formed with inlet ports 22 adapted to register with the ports 10 of said valve, and it is further provided with three outlet'ports 23, 24 and 25 arranged to register with the exhaust ports 11 and 12 of said chamber.

A cut-oil sleeve 26e-see Figures 4 and 5- lits snugly over and is movable on that portion of the reversing sleeve 13 that surrounds the high pressure chamber This cut-oill sleeve is constructed with ports 27 corresponding to the inlet ports 16 ot the reversing sleeveand the inlet ports 7 ot said high pressure chamber, and it also has ports 28 andY 29 corresponding to the openings 17 and 18 of the reversing sleeve and the outd let ports 8 and V9 of said chamber 5 of the valve 1.

The cut-oil sleeve is fitted over the reversing sleeve with its inner end in abutment with the shouldered member 1), and with the blocks 2O and 21 of said reversing sleeve disposed in movable and interloeleth engagement in the openings 28 and 29 between the segn'iental bridge 'blocks 30 and 31 of said cut-ott' sleeve. y' Y Said eut-oft sleeve can be partially rotated Von the reversing sleeve by a lever 32 that is fastened to a hollow spindle 33 which tits around and provides a long bearing for the hollow spindle 14-see Figure 5-. Thus he reversing sleeve 13 can be moved around the valve 1by the operation of the lever 15, and the cut-oit sleeve 26 can be moved about said reversing sleeve and adjusted relatively -to the ports of the high pressure chamber 5 by the lever B2-the valve spindle 2 and the spindles 14 and 33 of the reversing and cut-od sleeves, respectively, being concentrically arranged.

`YVhen the valve, reversing .sleeve and the Lear/,sei

supports two bearing buttons 37, the inner ot which is engaged by said bearing boss 3. These buttons are constructed ilanges 38, between which is .seated a compression spring 39 that maintains vthe valve l in peripheral contact with the reversing sleeve 13, thus ensuring steam-tight condi tions, and also compensating for any wear l that may occur. The tension or" said spring is adjusted by screw 3G, which is locked by the nut 40 on said screw. The valve casing is provided at its opposite end with a gland 41, through which are passed the concentrically arranged spindles 2, 14 and 33.

rllhe valve casing 34 has ports 42 and 43 adapted to register with the o-utlet port-s 28 and 29 of the cut-oil sleeve 2G and communicating with opposite ends of the high pressure cylinder 44 by means of passages .and 46, respectively. Said casing also has ports 47 and 48 corresponding to the outlet ports 23, 24 and 25 oi the reversing sleeve 13 and communicating with opposite ends of the low pressure cylinder 49 by passages 50 and 51 respectively. f

Oscillation of the reversing sleeve 13 elfected by movement et the lever alters the position of the blocks 2O and 21 and'consequently the location of the outlet ports 17 and 18 in relation to the ports 43 and 42 termed in the valve easing 34 andin con'nnunication with the high pressure cylinder 45.-- see Figures 8 and 9. rThis movementet the reversing sleeve also varies the positions Vof the outlet ports 23, 24 and 25 relatively to the ports 47 and 48 in sai-d valve casing that lead to the low pressure cylinder 49 see Figures 11 and 12-thus changing the flow of steam from one end oit the cylinder to the other end.

Oseillatory movement imparted to the cutoti' sleeveV 26 by the lever 32 (or by connec-Y tions from a governor ashereina'ftcr described) with consequential moven'ient of the segmental lnidge blocks and 31 within the openings or ports 1? and '18 varies the area of these ports that are exposed to the valve, and consequently the period of cut-oil of .steam to the cylinders.

Rotary motion is imparted to the valve spindle 2 and in consequence to the valvel through a pair of meshing bevel wheels 52 from a vertical spindle 53 .which receives its motion from the engine crank-shaft 54 through a pair ot engaging spiral gears 55.

Automatic control of the cut-oil`I sleeve 26 to govern the speed of the engine is obtained by connecting the lever through a system of levers 56 to a governor 57 mounted upon an upward extension 58 of said spindle 53. 'Y

Varying rotary'motion transmitted to said governor, when set tor an Vuniform speed, causes the same to oscillate the cut-oft` sleeve 26 by acting through the levers 56-until a constant engine speed is maintained.

The valve, as illustrated havingtwo op, posing outlet ports, is designed to rotate at one halt' the speed ot' the crankshaft and the timing is such thatl the openingot'the valve ports to admit steam is in synchronization with the termination ot the piston strokes.

In operation, steam is admitted by means of a regulating valve inserted in the supply pipe through an inlet pipe 58, cast integrally With the valve casing 34, into the annular Vchamber' 59 surrounding saidV valve casing and in communication With the interior thereof. The steam iovvs from said chamber 59 through the inlet ports 27 16 and 7 of the cut-off sleeve 26, reversing sleeve 13 and valve 1, respectively, into the high pressure chamber 5. Upon either of the outlet ports 8 or 9 being opened by the rotary motion ot the valve, the steam Within said chamber 5 passes either throughthe openings 17, 29, port 43 and passage 46, or through openings 18, 28, port 42 and passage into the high pressure cylinder Lft-see Figures 7 and 8. Steam admitted to the cylinder 44 drives the piston 60 in av direction Cif fsleeve 13 and valve 1, respectively,

low pressure chamber 6 of said valve.

depending upon that end of said cylinder Which the steam enters.

The piston When nearing the end of its stroke uncoversa series oi' exhaust ports 61 formed in and around said cylinder 44, through Which ports the `now expanded steam passes into an exhaust manifold 62 and thence to a receiving chamber 63.r

The steam travels from said chamber 63 through ports 64 that are formed in and around the valve casing 34, and through the inlet openings 22 and 10 of the reversing intothe 'Ihe steam then passes either through ports 11, 23 orr24, 47 or through ports 12, 25 and. 48 into either of the passages --51 communicating with the low pressure cylinder 49. At a time slightly vbefore the termination of the stroke of the piston 65 of said cylinder the steam exhausts through ports 66 formed in and around the Wall of said low pressure cylinder 49 intoan exhaust manifold 67 and chamber 68, and thence either into the atmosphere or to a. condenser.y Then the engine is running normally, the blocks 2O and 21 of the reversing sleeve 13 are in the position shovvn in Figure 8, and the steam is alternately admitted to the passages 45 and 46 in regular sequences. To

reverse the engine, the lever .15 is moved to the positionA shown in Figure 9,` thus partially rotatingthe reversing ing the blocks 20lan'd- 21 to the opposite ends ot the l ports 28 and 29- respectively. This vaction causes the steam for the next stroke tobe admitted to the cylinder 44 through either the port 17 orl the port 18 (according to theposit-ion of the valve) before the :piston 60"has completed its previous stroke, thus altering the sequence ot the steam admissions and `reversing' thedirection of the engine in the usual manner. "To regulate the cut-oli of steam to the engine, the handle 32 is actuated, causing the cut-oitl sleeve 26 to be moved to required direction. This causes the position of the `blocks 30 and 31 to be changed to increase or decrease the size of the ports 17 and18, thus varying the moment at which the admission ot steam to the engine is cut oit( The'engine can only mid-stroke ofthe piston, 8V and 9 are on a line parallel to the axis of the cylinder. Should the reversing handle 15 be actuated While the piston is in a position otherl than mid-stroke, reversing-of the engine Will not take placefuntil the piston first reaches mid-stroke, When the steam will then be admitted to .the oppositev side of the v piston.

In non-reversing engines, the reversing sleeve 13 is of course dispensed vvith,land the cut-off sleeve 26 is constructed so as to encircle thehigh .pressure chamber 5 of the rotary valve 1, and With the valve casing forms an effective seating and bearingfor said valve. y What I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is 1. Valve gearing for steam and other fluid-pressurev engines, comprising a single continuous hollovv' valve rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having its interior divided into a plurality of compartments, said valve being provided at one end vvith a spindle; a reversing sleeve rotatably fitting around said valve and having a hollow spindle Which fits around the valve spindle; a cut-oila sleeve rotatably fitting around'aportion only ofthe reversing-sleeve and having a hollow spindle which iits around the spindle on said reversing sleeve;l a casing wherein said valve and sleeves'are arranged, all three spindles extending outward through the same end of the casing; and individual operating means connected With the respective spindles for operating anyl one independently of the others.

2. Valve gearing fork steam and other fluid-pressure engines, comprising a hollow tapered valve rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having its opposite ends closed and its interior divided int-o a plurality of compartments, said valve being provided at one end With a spindle; an internally-tasleeve and mov-1 be reversed at the Y when the openings' pered reversing sleeve rotatably and conformably ittng around said valve and open at one end to expose the adjacent end of the valve, said sleeve having at its other end a hollow spindle which fits around the valve spindle and also having an external oiroumerential shoulder intermediate its ends; a out-off sleeve rotatably fitting around a portion only of the reversing sleeve and abutl() ting at one end against said shoulder, the

other end of the eut-off sleeve being provided with a hollow spindle which nts around Y the spindle on the reversing sleeve; a easing tween the exposed end of the valve and the Y adjacent end vvall of the casing to force said valve inwardly said reversing sleeve so as to maintain steam-tight Contact between them; and individual operating means connected with the respective spindles for operating any one independently of the others.

ln testimony whereof I afix my signature WLLAl/I MONTAGU COVVARD. 

